Machine for bending metal plates.



No. 688,996. Patented Dec. [7, IQOI. a. w. GREEN.

MACHINE FOB BENDING METAL PLATES.

(Application filed Fab. 2. 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheata-Shoel I.

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No. 688,996. Patented Doc. l7, IBM. 6. W. GREEN. MACHINE FUR BENDINB METAL PLATES.

(Application filed Fab. 9, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Shad 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSfS. 544,

THE uonms Pmns w, pnomumcx. WASHINGTON u w Patented Dec. 17,

a. w. GREEN. MACHINE FUR BENDING METAL PLATES.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

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GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN, OF LITTLE CHESTER, DERBY, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR SENDING METAL PLATES.

$PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,996, dated December 17, 1901. Application filed February 2, 1901. Serial No. 45,747, (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN, engineering foreman, of 28 Marcus street, Little Chester, Derby, England, have invented Improvements in Machines for Bend ing Metal Plates; and I do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained inand by the following statement.

My invention has for its object to provide means whereby bentplates with flanged edges, such as are known as tunneling or tank plates, can be made by pressure in an efficient, expeditious, and economical manner. These plates have generally been cast; but by means of a machine or apparatus according to my invention I make them of wrought metal with or without corrugations. The principal difficulties of bending such a plate are getting the compression. blocks or dies to properly form the radiating flanged edges of the plates and removing the plates from the outer blocks or dies after the said plates have been bent and removing the inner blocks or dies from inside the said plate. The machine or apparatus according to my invention overcomes these difficulties.

I Will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan of a machine or apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention for bending plates with internally-flanged edges. The section is taken on the line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a View half in side elevation and half in longitudinal section upon the line b b, Fig. 1. The portion in section shows the blocks or dies in the position which they assume in pressing the plate, and the portion in elevation shows the blocks or dies in their position when not pressing. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 0 c of Figs. 1 and2. Fig. 4 is a plan drawn to an enlarged scale of the flat piece of metal cut or otherwise formed to the required shape ready for pressing. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation on line 01 d of Fig. 6, and the latter is a longitudinal section of the plate when pressed-that is to say, when it has been bent and flanged in my improved machine or apparatus.

The various parts of the machine or apparatus are carried by any suitable framing A, and the rams hereinafter referred to, which may be of any ordinary or suitable type, may be operated by any suitable power, but preferably they are operated by hydraulic power.

I employ two sets of pressure blocks or dies, the lower or outer set B being operated by a ram 0 and being preferably in halves with upwardly and inwardly inclined ends and free to slide in the guides or ways D on a table 0, carried by the ram 0 and guided by the uprights of the frame A. When the said halves are pressed together, they form the lower or outer die the same shape as that to which the outer face of the plate is to be bent. Upon pressure being applied from below by the ram 0 the inclined ends B of the lower blocks ordies bear against the Wedges or inclined faces of the fixed blocks E, secured to the framingAand constituting abutments, and so the halves of said blocks or dies are forced together. The joint between the halves may be of any suitable type. .Working in conjunction with the lower or outer blocks or dies is an upper or inner set of blocks or dies, the middle portion F of which is fixed to the main frame of the machine, the side portions F F being dovetailed or otherwise fitted to the middle portion F, so that they can slide thereon at an angle corresponding to or approximating that of the flanges to be formed on the ends of the plate. The said parts F F are also connected in any suitable manner to the rams G. The pressure-faces of the lower or outer blocks or dies and the pressure-faces of the upper or inner blocks or dies are shaped to give the requisite form to the flanged plate to be produced. The rams G are set at angles corresponding to or approximating the angles of the flanges to be produced 011 the ends of the plate. Portions of the plate are cut away at each corner, as shown upon Fig. 4, to allow of the turning up of the flanges.

The plate at the requisite temperature is placed upon the lower or outer set of blocks or dies B, which are operated by the ram 0, until the plate touches the under side of the fixed central portion F of the upper or inner set of blocks or dies, when the upper rams G are set in motion (if they have not previously been set down) and pressure is brought to bear evenly all over the plate until the whole space between the blocks or dies is filled by the metal of the plate.

Any suitable stops or gages may be employed to limit or indicate the required movement of the pressure blocks or dies, it being understood that the process is continuous and that the bending and flanging of the plate is preferably performed at one operation of the machine or apparatus.

To remove the formed plate, the lower ram 0 is lowered, bringing with it the lower or outer pressure blocks or dies, which open longitudinally as they pass .over the radiallyflanged ends of. the plate, their longitudinal movement being limited by the stops II, if desired. The portions F F of the upper or inner blocks or dies are then withdrawn, (which may be etfected by d raw-off hydraulic rams,cou nterweights,screws,or other means,) thus liberating the plate, so that it canbe readily removed.

-I do not limit myself to making the sets of blocks or dies in the number of parts described nor to the precise proportions and details illustrated, as they may be varied to.

suit particular requirements, such as the size and thickness of plate to be bent, the depth of the flanges, and the like.

If desired, I may arrange a guard to come over each corner of the bottom pressureblocks to prevent the angles of the plate crimping or buckling.

Although in the drawingsI have shown the sets of blocks or dies as being arranged one above the other, I do not limit myself to this position, as it is evident that the machine or blocks or dies otherwise set, provided that they operate as inner and outerdies, as hereinbefore described.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-- 1; In machines or apparatus for bending metal plates, the combination with lower or outer blocks or dies adapted to allow of the bent plate being removed, of an upper or inner block or die having portions shaped to conform to the angle of inwardly-bent portions or flanges of the plate, and capable of being slid at an angle and means for operating the said portions substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. In combination, the lower set of pressure-blocks comprising the two halves B, the table 0 upon which the said halves may slide toward and from each other, the fixed blocks E having inclined faces for forcing the halves B together, the upper set of pressure-blocks comprising the middle portion F, the side portions F F fitted to slide on the middle portion and means for operating the pressure-blocks, substantially as described.

3. In combinati0n,a pressure-block formed of separable sections and with a cavity, an opposing block adapted to enter said cavity, said block comprising a plurality of sections arranged to move along, divergent lines into said cavity, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \VILLIAM GREEN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SWINDELL, \V. II. BLocKnInoE. 

